I thought I would share with you guys what I accomplished this past weekend. I ran my first road race since my Heart Valve replacement back on November 8 2012. So 8 months post opt I ran a 10K race and posted a time of 1:18 for 7.1 miles. Roughly 11 minute miles. My goal to run it in 1 hr 24 min. I have a St Jude Mechanical Valve .I also play on a Co-Ed softball team. I just hit and don't play the field. I wasn't going to let the fact I'm on Warfrin limit me on being active. So if you are concerned and worried your life will be limited if you go with the mechanical valve don't be. I feel great and its only been 8 months post opt. Maybe this will help you in your decision on choosing what kind of valve to have. God Bless

Where has the time gone. I'm riding my bike, kayaking lakes and starting to jog. Life is getting back to normal for my active lifestyle. I can't wait to get up and start to hike the mountains again. Life is good. I'm used to the clicking noise from my new valve and don't really notice it that much anymore. I've been able to pray and talk to people I know that are going in for open heart surgery and will continue to as long as I live. My INR is being checked only once a month now(Thank God) and I hope that continues. Overall I'm feeling better each day.
God Bless

Been awhile since I last posted. 9 weeks since my surgery and progressing well. Doing Cardio Rehab 3 times a week. Been off beta blockers for about 3 weeks now and feel alot better. My heart rate while resting is about 85 bpm and starting to normalize a bit. I have had 2 sinus infections since my surgery. I'm getting used to Warfarin and my INR readings seem to have leveled out and now. I'm getting it checked every 2 weeks now. I'm also getting used to the clicking noise the valve makes at night before sleep. My sleep in slowly returning to some what normal also.

Got a lung infection from the Hospital. Treated with Cephalexin for the past 6 days. Developed rash on body a went back to the Doctor. Rash is from alergic reaction to the Cephalexin.Walikng 1/2 mile a day. Feeling Ok but not sleeping well. Arm pain from bypass harvest spot. Felling cold and hot still. One day at a time. God Bless

Day 6
Came home yesterday. Yee Haw
Tough night trying to sleep.Lungs still hurt. Coughing up alot of fleem, which is good.Hope to get some good sleep tonight. Ambien time. Feeling better.
Thanks for all your prayers.Will try to keep up a more regular basis.

Written by Ron's wife Shawna.......
Ron's surgery went really well yesterday. He was in surgery for 5 1/2 hours ( from OR room to ICU)
They did exactly what they said so no surprises, praise the Lord. He had the vent tube, which was really irritating to him, removed after about 3 1/2 hours. He was able to talk and communicate. I was at the hospital until about 6pm last night. I checked on him before I went to bed and he talked to me on the phone and said "love you babe, but am going to keep this short,my chest hurts." We had decided that I would not stay at the hospital if he was doing good that I would come home to rest because ICU is crowded and they have 1 assigned nurse and 1 tech so very well cared for but once he is moved to a regular room, probably today I wll stay.

T minus 24 and counting. Gathering around loved ones today. Walked my grandsons to school. Going to the park for a walk and to play with my grandkids.The sun is shining and its a most beautiful day.I'm so blessed and humbled by Gods grace and overwhelming peace.Ready to get this done and start mending.Going to watch the Wizard of Oz tonight with all 5 of my grandkids-Priceless. Matthew 6:33-34
Thanks for prayers and God Bless

Last day at work for awhile. Getting everything taken care of and trying to stay busy. In James 4:8 it says" Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you". How true that has been these past few months since I knew I would be having surgery. When we face trials in life it will test our faith, but be encouraged, God will give you his peace and strength to get through them.I'm at peace and ready to go. Tomorrow will be time with my family.

Started my new meds as I prepare for my surgery. I will be having my Bicuspid Aortic Valve replaced with a St Jude Mechanical Heart Valve. I will also be having a Bypass graf done, a two for one deal since they have me opened up. This is the first journal Ive ever done and attempted, so bear with me. I will be honest with my posting and tell you how this journey is going. Lots of different emotions right now as I prepare for the big day.My faith and my Family are my foundation stones to get me by.Phil 4:6-7 is a great scripture on God's Peace. I will be having my surgery on November 8 2012 at 7:00am at St Joesph Hospital in Bellingham WA. Dr James Douglas will be doing my surgery. He is one of the best Heart Valve Surgeons on the Westcoast.I'm very lucky to have such a Doctor and first rate Hospital only a few miles away.The next few days will be tough as I get with family and tell them how much I love each one of them.